Stay Inspired! Tips for Honing your YOU-nique Creative Voice

April 20, 2017Meredith Blis

I want to begin with this quote

“I once asked Aragon, the historian, how history was written. He said, ‘You have to invent it.’ When I wish as now to tell of critical incidents, persons, and events that have influenced my life and work, the true answer is all of the incidents were critical, all of the people influenced me, everything that happened and that is still happening influences me.” - John Cage

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the name, John Cage was a composer, an innovative icon of 20th century ‘classical’ or avant grade classical music. Some of his best known work involves prepared pianos. He created the music by actually placing objects between the strings of grand pianos thus creating a new instrument! (and crazy enough nowadays, there’s an APP for it!) http://johncage.org/cagePiano.html

I mention him because this level of creativity is something most people (especially in conservatories) would have screamed NO, you Can’t do that. But he followed his vision and created a whole new ascetic in modern music. Stories of such creativity always warm my heart and serve as an amazing reminder that it’s imperative to heed the creative voice inside of our heads even when it goes against the ‘norm.’ That is How Magic is Made :) This kind of innovation also reminds be about the power of being Your Own Kind of Beautiful.

Here is some priceless advice he shared……

Some Rules and Hints

for Students and Teachers

By John Cage

RULE 1: Find a place you trust and then, try trusting it for a while

RULE 2: GENERAL DUTIES AS A STUDENT

Pull everything out of your teacher.

Pull everything out of your fellow students.

RULE 3: GENERAL DUTY AS A TEACHER

Pull everything out of your students.

RULE 4: Consider everything an experiment.

RULE 5: Be self disciplined.

This means finding someone smart or wise and choosing to follow them.

To be disciplined is to follow in a good way.

To be self-disciplined is to follow in a better way.

RULE 6: Follow the leader

Nothing is a mistake.

There is no win and no fail.

There is only make.

RULE 7: The only rule is work

If you work it will lead to something.

It is the people who do all of the work all the time who eventually catch onto things.

You can fool the fans - but not the players.

RULE 8: Do not try to create and analyze at the same time. They are different processes.

RULE 9: Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It is lighter than you think.

RULE 10: We are breaking all the rules, even our own rules and how do we do that?

By leaving plenty of room for 'x' qualities.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Always be around. Come or go to everything. Always go to classes.

Read everything you can get your hands on. Look at movies carefully and often.

Save everything. It may come in handy later.

And I think the sum of this missive - Look for Inspiration in everything - yourself, your community and your teachers. One needn’t be a formal teacher to be a teacher…. Allow your horizons to expand by listening and learning. Have the discipline to work on your craft as well as the courage to sing YOUR song.